Narrabri Shire tourism is on a roll.
The dramatic upturn in the district’s agricultural prospects, record commercial and building development, worth almost $30 million assessed by the council in the year to March, is joined by the strongly expanding third leg of the economy trifecta, district tourism.
Tourism is another of the shire’s exciting growth industries.
The new blue print for the future of the visitor economy, the shire council’s draft Narrabri Region Tourism Destination Management Plan 2021/2025 sets out the strategy for the local tourism sector.
More tourists are on the road nowadays.
The plan identified that there is significant growth across all age groups in the caravan and camping sector.
“Visitor markets are changing” the report says.
“There is strong and growing interest in, and visitation to, regional areas.”
Narrabri Shire is well placed to continue to service this burgeoning market, which has the huge added impetus of domestic travel as overseas holiday flights are grounded.
Rick and Sharmaine Cunningham, operators of the long established Narrabri Fish Farm, share the confidence in the growing local tourism economy and are investing in its future.
They are planning to expand the Jack’s Creek Road Fish Farm complex to attract and cater for more visitors.
Locals, and shoals of tourists, are already making the Fish Farm their destination.
Expansion of the hospitality venue and hatchery will cater to the growing number of visitors keen on the Australian bush experience.
Rick and Sharmaine have lodged a Development Application which outlines a staged plan for two, two-bedroom farm stay cabins, a new amenities block associated with the camping ground, eight powered van sites, six unpowered van sites, functions area upgrade, additions and alterations to the kiosk/cafe building, picnic shelter and hatchery building and a kids’ playground.
Coachloads of visitors are arriving at the Narrabri Fish Farm each week.
On the weekend a busload of tourists pulled in to the Fish Farm to be greeted by their hosts Rick, Sharmaine and Ayla Cunningham.
The visitors were Chinese community members of a Hills District church seniors’ group on a tour of the shire and then on to other North Western destinations.
In addition to visiting the hatchery, having lunch at the Fish Farm and taking part in yabbie races, the group was taken out to Sawn Rocks, and inspected a cotton farm and the Pilliga sandstone caves.
The visitor offer to tourists is the ‘true Australia’ of bush hospitality and interesting local attractions.
The volume of groups coming to the Narrabri Fish Farm continues to grow.
The Fish Farm is being developed to cater for more tourists, but the influx brings out of town dollars to many shire businesses.
Tourists stay at local motels and buy locally on their visit.
The numbers keep growing.
“We have had six coachloads in the past two weeks and 11 more coaches booked in the coming two weeks,” said Rick Cunningham.
Some are day and night visitors and coachloads range around the 50 to 60 passengers.
The visitors enjoy the country experience, food and fun – and tell their friends ‘go to Narrabri Shire.’
Read more stories like this:
- Major shire projects confirmed
- Council seeking input on tourism industry plan
- Council adopts the draft Narrabri Sports and Tourism Precinct Masterplan
